Arrow: The Complete Eighth And Final Season Blu-Ray Disc Overview Review

After eight remarkable seasons, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC mark the end of an epic era with its final installment of the suspenseful and action-packed series with the release of Arrow: The Eighth and Final Season. The show is the longest running DC Extended Universe series to air on The CW. Some might have assumed it was Smallville, but in actuality Smallvillebegan at the tail end of what was The WB before it merged with CBS’ now defunct UPN to form The CW, hence that is the reason Arrow is the longest running DCEU TV series on The CW and the series spawned numerous spinoffs including The Flash, Supergirl, Legends Of Tomorrow, Black Lightning and Batwomanand hope The CW continues to be the home of DC Comics inspired and adapted live action television series on free over the air broadcast television because no genre TV fan should be forced to buy multiple subscriptions to see their favorite TV Superheroes interact on television. 

Arrowhad an edgier look and feel to it when the show premiered in 2012, which gave it a theatrical quality that other TV shows of that time lacked. Over timeArrowdid loose a bit of that edge that I liked as the show moved toward the fantastical much like Gotham’sfirst season was my favorite because it had a more reality based tone before it got a bit more camp in the seasons that followed. I am happy to report that the final season of Arrowwraps up Oliver’s Queen’s Story inna bittersweet, but never the less uplifting way that reboots what has been the Arrowverse until the greater acknowledgement of the multiverse combines practically everything, including a surprise meeting between a theatrical version of a character and the TV counterpart in the spectacular crossover event Crisis On Infinite Worlds,which is included in it’s entirety on a Blu-ray Disc within the set and the fourth part is included on the limited time only digital copy of the season for which an insert with the code is included within the set.

Other extra value features include, but are not limited to the 2019 Comic-Con Panel, the broadcast special Arrow: Hitting the Bullseye and deleted scenes. The digital copy has a two and a half minute sizzle reel too. The Blu-ray release also presents all ten final season episodes in 1080p Full HD Video with DTS-HD Master Audio for English 5.1. The Crisis On Infinite Earthsbonus disc also included the bonus materials Crisis Past and Present: Kevin Conroy Bat Legend, Crisis on Infinite Earths: The Architects Return, Crisis Past and Present - Superman vs. Superman, Characters in Crisis: Pariah, Crisis Management and Character in Crisis: The Anti-Monitor. English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired are included for all episodes on disc and the Digital Copy too. 

Arrow: The Eighth and Final Season is available on Blu-ray Disc now at retailers on and offline courtesy of Warner Brothers Home Entertainment.

(C) Copyright 2020 By Mark A. Rivera

All Rights Reserved.

With regards to Covid 19...

I apologize to anyone who will find this account disturbing or graphic, but I feel it is important that anyone and everyone needs to know the truth about how insidious and dangerous Covid-19 is. First off, no one is safe. To my frustration I see young people and for some reason Immigrants walking around without a mask and gloves from outside my bedroom window as if they have some kind of protective shield around them. Covid-19 does not discriminate on who it kills. There are people online, especially on YouTube claiming the virus does not exist or that they had it and magically survived with some tea and meditation alone and meanwhile they were never tested. From what little I can state about this virus, Covid-19 seems to hit people quite suddenly. In the cases with family members they were fine the night before and the next morning they woke up sick. I mean hitting like a ton of bricks. Within a day my mother and father were rushed to NYU - Brooklyn Hospital and both did not last even a week. In some cases it has been confirmed that people developed dementia in the hospital as a side effect and organ damage can occur such as kidney failure as an example. This is regardless of whether or not a pre-existing condition was present. The behavior of the virus is so unlike anything we have encountered before that there is no exact uniform set of symptoms I could tell you. What I can tell you is there is no cure. All doctors can do is give you things to help battle symptoms, but in the end the battle is up to the body and perhaps will of the individual and if you believe in a higher power regardless if it is personal or impersonal, God and for the record I am NOT an atheist. Now the tragedies don’t stop with death. I can only speak from my limited experience here in Brooklyn, New York that the bodies are contagious with the virus that the clothes they die in are left on. They are probably bagged and put on ice and held at the hospital for a maximum of three days before going to the morgue for another five days. After that they are put in a coffin that appears though I cannot confirm to be made out of cardboard and buried in mass graves on some island like a scene from an apocalyptic film or holocaust program whether it is the Shoah or later holocausts that occurred in Africa, Asia as well as the former Soviet Union since sadly there is no shortage of evil people seeking power for power’s sake on this planet and willing to kill millions for infamy. 

If you are lucky enough to get a funeral home to take the bodies because of the amount of related deaths out there and coordinate a burial, there is no funeral, no last Rights, the bodies are not dressed and are preserved in any fashion. Instead they go from the truck to the fridge to the casket to the cemetery and buried. No one can be present at the grave site aside from being within a sealed car with windows pulled up. Once the bodies are buried eventually you will be able to visit the gravesite, but since this virus is not going away anytime soon, you will probably have to wait until 2021 before you can have a proper funeral or memorial at the gravesite. Even people who choose cremation have similar limitations placed upon them in terms of what happens to the body before cremation and the length of time you may have to wait to receive the remains or have them interred at a facility. There are no wakes and no goodbyes save for whether or not you get a chance to FaceTime or speaker phone talk to the person before they die. These are the cold realities of Covid-19 save for perhaps those who are “wealthy” or “important” enough to warrant the best care money can buy and even then, there are no guarantees. So be compassionate instead of fearful. Don’t stigmatize those with the virus and those who are related to anyone in any way, shape or form from this disease. Don’t panic because accidents happen when we panic in a pandemic (sounds like a bad jingle). 

We will move beyond this, but it won’t be easy. A lot more people are going to die, including the possibility of myself or you who are reading this. Make no mistake, Coved-19 is real and it is an indiscriminate killer. So no matter how healthy or young or special or whatever a person thinks they are and how suburban or safe you think you are in, there is a danger and it is real so please be good to each other and pray or whatever you do and stay safe. God bless you all. Thank you.

Natalie Wood documentary coming to HBO

NATALIE WOOD: WHAT REMAINS BEHIND, An Intimate Portrait Of The Hollywood Icon Debuts May 5 From Director Laurent Bouzereau And Producer Natasha Gregson Wagner In many ways, acclaimed actress Natalie Wood’s life and career have been overshadowed by her tragic death at age 43 off the coast of Catalina Island. Yet, her extensive circle of family and friends, including daughter Natasha Gregson Wagner, have not forgotten the remarkable life she led and the legacy she left behind. In this intimate and revealing documentary, directed by award-winning filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau and debuting TUESDAY, MAY 5 (9:00 -10:40 pm ET/PT) in celebration of Mother’s Day, Gregson Wagner explores her mother’s public life and private persona through personal interviews with those closest to her, including husband Robert J. Wagner, who speaks on-camera about Wood’s death for the first time. NATALIE WOOD: WHAT REMAINS BEHIND paints a rich portrait of one of Hollywood’s greatest actresses, a woman deeply committed to her family, whose professional choices were boldly forward thinking at the time. The film had its World Premiere at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. The film will also be available on HBO On Demand, HBO NOW, HBO GO and partners’ streaming platforms. This revealing film skillfully weaves excerpts from Wood’s filmography with a treasure trove of archival material, including extensive family photos, diaries, never-before-seen home movies and audio recordings. Born to Russian immigrant parents in San Francisco, Wood was not yet five years old when she appeared in her first films, starring opposite Orson Welles in “Tomorrow is Forever” and Maureen O’Hara in “Miracle on 34th Street.” She received three Academy Award nominations before the age of 25 for “Rebel without a Cause,” “Splendor in the Grass” and “Love with the Proper Stranger,” and she won over audiences in her role as Maria in “West Side Story.” Throughout the documentary, we hear from friends, colleagues and family members who knew Wood best. Wood and Wagner were married for four years initially, and after divorcing, each married and had a child with someone else, before eventually reconciling several years later. They formed a large blended family and each of their children speak fondly of the happiness the two actors rediscovered in their second marriage to one another. Robert Redford, who owes his first big film break to Wood with “Inside Daisy Clover” (1965), and actor George Hamilton speak to her kind professionalism. Mia Farrow remembers that there was nothing more important to Wood than being a mother. Yet, Wood also struggled along the way, juggling career commitments and personal challenges while contending with her formidable, ambitious mother and navigating other familial conflicts. Wood began to have more agency in choosing her roles at an early age, beginning with 1955’s “Rebel Without a Cause,” where her portrayal of an angry teenager striving for connection felt deeply personal to her. Her turbulent relationship with her mother may have drawn her to the characters she played in “Splendor in the Grass” (1961) and “Gypsy” (1962), and her growing fascination with social issues attracted her to “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice” (1969). A product of the studio system, Wood nonetheless learned to use her power wisely when taking on Warner Bros. studio head Jack Warner, ultimately gaining more control over her own career. In NATALIE WOOD: WHAT REMAINS BEHIND, a portrait of Natalie Wood emerges through her filmography, but an even more defined image comes into focus through the robust collection of personal photographs and home movies, some of which Gregson Wagner discovered in her family’s storage unit. Never-before seen footage of Wood’s second wedding to Wagner was discovered as well as a revealing never-published article for Ladies Home Journal that Wood wrote in 1966, where she addresses her innermost thoughts on fame, affairs of the heart and family. Archival interviews with Wood over the years reveal an intelligent, maturing woman, embracing motherhood and her ever-evolving acting career. Bouzereau and Gregson Wagner don’t shy away from the headlines that still dominate any mention of Natalie Wood today and seek to set the record straight about what really happened the night she died. Wood’s husband Robert J. Wagner talks candidly with Natasha about the tragic loss of Natalie, and the grief they suffered in its wake. NATALIE WOOD: WHAT REMAINS BEHIND is a thought-provoking examination of an illustrious career, a life lived under public scrutiny and a tragic death that has up to now threatened to eclipse memories of a beautiful, bold woman. HBO Documentary Films and Amblin Television present NATALIE WOOD: WHAT REMAINS BEHIND, a film by Laurent Bouzereau. Produced by Bouzereau, Natasha Gregson Wagner and Manoah Bowman. Edited by Justin Summers. For Amblin Television: Executive producers, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey. For HBO: Executive Producers, Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller.

Comedies Streaming This Week HBO, TBS and TruTV.

Because Everyone Could Use A Good Laugh Right Now— Popular Comedies Streaming This Week on HBO, TBS and truTV

This week, we’re highlighting iconic comedy series available now on HBO, TBS and truTV.  While staying home, escape with hilarious hits like Veep, Barry, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Insecure on HBO GO and HBO NOW.  TBS has even more to keep your boredom at bay with beloved sitcoms like Friends, Seinfeld and The Big Bang Theory and animated series such as American Dad! and Bob’s Burgers on the TBS website, TBS app and video on demand with a pay tv subscription.  To top it off, truTV has an A-list collection of all-around fun programming including At Home with Amy Sedaris, Impractical Jokers, Billy on the Street, and more. Find the laugh-out-loud slate on the truTV website, truTV app and video on demand with a pay tv subscription.  HBO  A Black Lady Sketch Show   Avenue 5  Barry  Curb Your Enthusiasm  High Maintenance   Insecure   Los Espookys   The Righteous Gemstones   Silicon Valley   Veep  TBS  American Dad!  The Big Bang Theory  Bob's Burgers  The Detour  Everybody Loves Raymond Family Guy  Family Matters  Friends  The Last O.G.  Miracle Workers  Search Party  Seinfeld  Wrecked  truTV  Adam Ruins Everything  At Home with Amy Sedaris  Billy on the Street  The Carbonaro Effect  I'm Sorry   Impractical Jokers  Tacoma FD

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER continues its 18th season FRIDAY, APRIL 10 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), with a replay at 12:30 a.m.

REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER April 10 Lineup REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER continues its 18th season FRIDAY, APRIL 10 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT), with a replay at 12:30 a.m., exclusively on HBO. Allowing Maher to offer his unique perspective on contemporary issues, the show includes an opening monologue, roundtable discussions with panelists and interviews with guests. Virtual interview guests include New York City mayor Bill de Blasio; former U.S. Vice President founder and chairman of The Climate Reality Project, Al Gore; president of the Eurasia Group and GZERO Media and television host Ian Bremmer; and comedian and radio host, Nikki Glaser. The show is also available on HBO NOW, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and partners’ streaming platforms. Politico has hailed Maher as “a pugnacious debater and a healthy corrective to the claptrap of cable news,” while Variety noted, “There may not be a more eclectic guest list on all of television.” Maher headlined his first special on the network in 1989 and has starred in 11 HBO solo specials to date. The executive producers of REAL TIME WITH BILL MAHER are Bill Maher, Sheila Griffiths, Marc Gurvitz, Dean Johnsen, Billy Martin; co-executive producer, Chris Kelly; producer, Matt Wood; director, Paul Casey.

TBS Programming Alert Week of April 27

TBS Programming Alert Week of April 27

AMERICAN DAD! Monday, April 27, at 10:00pm ET/PT "Cheek to Cheek: A Stripper’s Story" Roger enlists Jeff as his protégé in order to open his dream chivalric strip club. Klaus moves into Steve’s room.

CONAN Monday, April 27, through Thursday, April 30 at 11:00pm ET/PT CONAN will air new episodes shot remotely on an iPhone, without an audience and with guest interviews being filmed via video chat. O’Brien’s production staff will remain working from home.

The Last O.G. Tuesday, April 28 at 10:30pm ET/PT "They Reminisce Over You" Tray and his family go on a city-wide hunt for an old pair of Air Jordan’s after Tray discovers that they are worth big bank.

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee Wednesday, April 29 at 10:30pm ET/PT Samantha Bee, who like the rest of the country is adjusting to working from home, is broadcasting new episodes from her backyard! Executive Producer Jason Jones, Bee's husband and quarantine roommate, will film the episode from a socially distant six feet away – and even further away if it's a better angle for Bee.

BREAKING GLASS EXPLORES HISTORY IN SOUTHERN GOTHIC THRILLER UNION BRIDGE

BREAKING GLASS EXPLORES HISTORY IN SOUTHERN GOTHIC THRILLER UNION BRIDGE

Philadelphia, PA, April 7, 2020--Breaking Glass Pictures has acquired North America rights to the Lynchian southern gothic thriller UNION BRIDGE, the debut feature from writer/director Brian Levin. Breaking Glass acquired rights to the film in March in a deal negotiated between Breaking Glass CEO Rich Wolff and Levin, who is represented by UTA and Itay Reiss at Artists First. The film will open in Los Angeles on May 15, and arrive on DVD & VOD platforms May 19. UNION BRIDGE held its World Premiere at the New Filmmakers NY Film Festival, and stars Scott Friend (“Fourteen”), Emma Duncan (Chicago Med), Alex Breaux (“Depraved”, When They See Us), and Elisabeth Noone (The Wire). The film is proudly produced by Lucie Elwes, alongside Levin.  “We are very excited to team up with Breaking Glass for the release of Union Bridge”, said Levin. “They saw that our film came from a love of cinema as well as a desire to connect with a large audience. Union Bridge has had a strange and magic journey all the way down the line- and the partnership with Breaking Glass was the final and critical piece of the puzzle.” UNION BRIDGE follows Will Shipe, the scion of a powerful family living near the Mason Dixon line, as he moves back home after years in the city. His old friend Nick, who still lives in town, is feverishly digging in the land because of a vision he can’t escape. What is buried in this small town and the events around it has repercussions that effect many people. Most of all, Will Shipe, and the past and future of his legacy.  “Writer/Director Levin brings an assured sensibility to his debut feature”, said Richard Ross, Co-President at Breaking Glass. “He manages to breathe new life into the “family with hidden secrets” genre, and is ably assisted by a strong performance from lead actor Scott Friend.” UNION BRIDGE Genre: Thriller, Drama, History Running Time: 91 min. Rating: NR Language: English Cast:  Scott Friend Emma Duncan Alex Breaux Elisabeth Noone Bobby J. Brown Lateicia Ford Kevin Murray Nancy Linden Director: Brian Levin  Writer: Brian Levin Producers: Lucie Elwes, Brian Levin Music Composed by: Chris Retsina, Caleb Stine, Turner Curran Cinematographer: Sebastian Slayter Editor: Nick Kovacic Casting Director: Kate Geller, Pat Moran Production Design by: Katy Hallowell, Oscar Tiné Costume Design by: Julie Bennett Makeup Department: Aedel Park Sound by: Turner Curran

#BingeWatchWednesdays

TOP PICK OF THE WEEK

Arrow

Get ready for nonstop action with all 171 episodes across 8 seasons of The CW’s hit series! Arrow is developed by Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, and Andrew Kreisberg is based on the DC Comics character Green Arrow. Follow billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) on his journey after spending five years shipwrecked on an island, and returning home to Starling City to fight crime and corruption as a secret vigilante whose weapon of choice is a bow and arrow. 

After eight remarkable seasons on the air, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and DC will mark the end of an epic era with its final installment of the suspenseful and action-packed series with the release of Arrow: The Complete Series on Blu-ray & DVD April 28, 2020. A limited edition bonus disc featuring all five DC Crossover Event: Crisis on Infinite Earthsepisodes will be available exclusively for fans who purchase the Blu-ray, so pre-order your copy today! 

In honor of this upcoming release in just a few weeks, and feeling like a Super Hero these days – we have a clip from Season 8 to share with your readers today on your site and socials! Please let them know that they can get all episodes of the series today on Digital – and The Complete Series set is coming soon for hours of pure enjoyment!

https://youtu.be/2yqGwiCkZs8

OTHER BINGE-WORTHY TITLES TO CONSIDER:

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

The Joker is back with a vengeance. After a 40-year absence, The Joker (Mark Hamill) invades Bruce Wayne's (Kevin Conroy) estate, revealing his knowledge of Wayne's past secret identity. The Joker nearly kills his nemesis, but Batman, alias Terry McGinnis (Will Friedle), Wayne's protégé, saves Wayne's life--for now. Pressured by Terry to divulge the truth, Commissioner Gordon (Angie Harmon) retells the events of the night she witnessed the total annihilation of the psychopathic Joker. So how can the Clown Prince of Crime be alive? Will this inexperienced Batman meet The Joker's challenge? Bruce Wayne's life depends on it in this action-packed animated adventure. 

Batwoman

The future of Gotham is in her hands. Strap yourself in for an exhilarating ride with 16 episodes of the hit series currently available from the first season on The CW! Kate Kane never planned to be Gotham’s new vigilante. After Batman disappeared, Gotham was in despair. Until she returned. Armed with a passion for justice and a flair for speaking her mind, she soars through the shadowed streets of Gotham as Batwoman. But don’t call her a hero yet. In a city desperate for a savior, she must first overcome her own demons before becoming Gotham’s symbol of hope.  

Constantine: City of Demons

From executive producers David S. Gover and Greg Berlanti, The Hellblazer is back in a twisted tale of mystery, intrigue and the occult with Constantine: City of Demons, a 90 minute full-length, R-rated feature film based on the acclaimed DC animated series from CW Seed. The film follows family man Chas and occult detective John Constantine, a decade after a tragic mistake, set out to cure Chas’s daughter Trish from a mysterious supernatural coma. With the help of the mysterious Nightmare Nurse, the influential Queen of Angels, and brutal Aztec God Mictlantecuhtli, the pair just might have a chance at outsmarting the demon Beroul to save Trish’s soul. In a world of shadows and dark magic, not everything is what it seems, and there’s always a price to pay. The path to redemption is never easy, and if Constantine is to succeed, he must navigate through the dark urban underbelly of Los Angeles, outwit the most cunning spawns of hell, and come face to face with arch-nemesis Nergal – all while battling his own inner demons!

LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League: Cosmic Clash

The brilliant, hyper-obsessive-compulsive, super-computer Brainiac is combing the universe for new additions to his collection of worlds when he stumbles upon a ripe planet for his taking – Earth. But Brainiac quickly discovers Earth has a “firewall” – the Justice League. When Brainiac cleverly displaces several members of the Justice League to other time periods in Earth’s history, Batman, Flash and Cyborg must build and use the Cosmic Treadmill to race across time to retrieve their comrades – while members of the Legion of Super Heroes attempt to hold off Brainiac’s assault. Only time will tell in this battle for the fate of the Earth and the Justice League!! Produced by Warner Bros. Animation, DC Entertainment and the LEGO Group, this animated features is fun for the whole family to enjoy!

Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans

When the forces of evil unite from across time and dimensions, it’ll take the combined efforts of distinctly different, yet similar Super Hero teams to keep the universe secure in Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen Titans. Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC, the 73 minute feature-length animated film stars the beloved multi-series cast from the past 18 years, and follows the comedic modern-day quintet as they take on their 2003 counterparts, when villains from each of their worlds join forces to pit the two Titan teams against each other. They’ll need to set aside their differences and work together to combat Trigon, Hexagon, Santa Claus (that’s right, Santa!) and time itself in order to save the universe.

The Flash

Speed-watch through all 129 episodes currently available from first six seasons of the top-rated series on The CW! After being struck by lightning, Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) is reborn. Now having super speed, he has a new name - The Flash. With the help of his friends, he fights crime and find other metahumans like him, and will do anything it takes to stop them!

Titans

Continue the fight against evil, while binging on all 24 episodes from the first 2 seasons of the American web television series created by Akiva Goldsman, Geoff Johns, and Greg Berlanti for DC Universe. Based on the DC Comics team Teen Titans, the series depicts a group of young heroes who join forces in their fight against evil. Featured as members of the eponymous Titans are Dick Grayson (Brenton Thwaites), Kory Anders (Anna Diop), Rachel Roth (Teagan Croft), Gar Logan (Ryan Potter), Jason Todd (Curran Walters), Donna Troy (Conor Leslie), Dawn Granger (Minka Kelly), Hank Hall (Alan Ritchson), Rose Wilson (Chelsea Zhang), and Conner (Joshua Orpin).

Supergirl 

Fly through all 103 episodes currently available from the first five seasons, and fight for what is right with the fanatical series - Supergirl! Born on the doomed planet Krypton, Kara Zor-El escaped at the same time as her cousin, Superman, but didn’t arrive on Earth until years later after being lost in the Phantom Zone. Raised by her adopted family, the Danvers, Kara grew up in the shadow of her foster sister, Alex, and learned to hide the phenomenal powers she shares with her famous cousin. Follow Kara as she juggles her life as an adult, protecting her city, and keeping up with her human relationships in this hit DC TV series!

Wonder Woman: Bloodlines

Go on an adventure with DC’s most powerful heroine – filled with intrigue, mythology and relentless battles on shores near and far – with Wonder Woman: Bloodlines. Amazon princess Diana of Themyscira chooses to save fighter pilot Steve Trevor and return him to his home in America – setting in motion one of Wonder Woman’s most captivating chapters. Fulfilling the role of both ambassador as well as protector, Diana soon earns the name Wonder Woman from the gracious people of Earth. Equally strong in body, heart and will, she makes it her mission to help a troubled young girl enlisted by a deadly organization known as Villainy, Inc., whose criminal members have their sights set on invading Themyscira, Diana’s paradise home. Prepare for a thrilling quest packed with brutal battles, mysterious mythology and endless wonder! Produced by Warner Bros. Animation and DC, the 83 minute feature-length animated film is rated PG.

THIS APRIL, CLASSES ARE IN SESSION WITH ONE OF 

BRITISH FILM'S MOST BELOVED AND ECCENTRIC 

COMEDY STARS IN A SEMINAL BLU-RAY COLLECTOR'S SET FEATURING FOUR DIGITALLY RESTORED CLASSICS

ALASTAIR SIM'S SCHOOL FOR LAUGHTER

THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIAN'S

SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS

LAUGHTER IN PARADISE

HUE AND CRY

Street Date: April 21, 2020

Blu-ray: $69.95

Available on Blu-ray for the First Time in North America, 

This Guffaw-Inducing Set Features Over Two Hours of Bonus Content, Including Featurettes and Interviews, and a 24-page booklet with a

 New Essay by Film Scholar Robert Bergen

Perhaps best remembered as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Scottish character actor Alastair Sim became a leading star of British cinema after spending five years as a lecturer of elocution at the University of Edinburgh. One of the best-loved and most prolific actors in classic British comedy, Sim, who often appeared in multiple roles, starred in more than fifty films beginning in 1935 and was both critically acclaimed and unfailingly popular, regularly topping the cinema-goers popularity polls. This April, courtesy of Film Movement Classics, classes are now back in session with ALASTAIR SIM'S SCHOOL FOR LAUGHTER, a seminal 4-disc Blu-ray collection spotlighting his most laughter-inducing film roles -- now digitally restored in HD for optimal viewing.

THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIAN'S (1954, directed by Frank Launder)

The schoolgirls of St. Trinian's are more interested in men and mischief than homework and hockey, but even greater trouble beckons with the arrival of two new students. Features Alastair Sim playing dual roles as the headmistress, Miss Millicent Fritton, and her twin brother, Clarence. Based on the cartoons of Ronald Searle. 

SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS (1960, directed by Robert Hamer)

Henry Palfrey (Ian Carmichael) tries hard to impress but always loses out to the rotter Delauney (Terry-Thomas). Then he enrolls in the "College of Lifemanship" run by "Professor" Stephen Potter (Alastair Sim) and learns "how to win without actually cheating!" But has he the courage to put all his lessons into effect? From the director of Kind Hearts and Coronets.

LAUGHTER IN PARADISE (1951, directed by Mario Zampi)

Famed Practical joker Henry Russell (Hugh Griffith) leaves 50,000 pounds to his four surviving relatives, including his cousin, retired army officer Deniston Russell (Alastair Sim). There's just one stipulation - each of them has to undertake a task completely out of character for one month. As each sets out on their objective they find that quite apart from the promised riches, they are unexpectedly getting a lot out of the challenge. All except caddish Simon Russell, that is. Released in 1951, Laughter In Paradise was Britain's top-grossing film. Watch carefully and see a young Audrey Hepburn in a bit part as a cigarette girl.

HUE AND CRY (1947, directed by Charles Crichton)

The first of the Ealing Studios "comedies." After discovering that his favorite comic is being used to send messages between a master criminal and his gang of thieves, teenager Joe Kirby (Harry Fowler) sets out to alert writer Felix Wilkinson (Alastair Sim) and turn the page on the crooks.

BONUS FEATURES

THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIAN'S 

• The Girls of St. Trinian's featurette
• Interview with film historian Geoff Brown
• Interview with Dr. Melanie Williams, Sr. Lecturer in Film Studies, UEA
• Interview with Alastair Sim's Daughter, Meredith McKendrick
• Interview with Steve Chibnall, Professor of British Cinema, De Montfort University

SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS

• Interview with Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw
• Interview with Graham McCann, Terry-Thomas biographer
• Interview with Chris Potter, Stephen Potter's grandson
• School for Scoundrels restored trailer 

HUE AND CRY 

• Interview with Steve Chibnall, Prof. of British Cinema, De Montfort U.
• Locations Featurette 

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Type: Blu-ray (New Digital Restorations)

Running Time: 365 Total minutes

Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Original Aspect Ratio: THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIAN'S, LAUGHTER IN PARADISE, HUE AND CRY ; 1.66:1 Original Aspect Ratio: SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS

Audio: Mono